RuralEXPO 2003 officially launched

Premier Roger Grimes and Industry, Trade and Rural Development Minister Judy Foote officially opened RuralEXPO 2003 this morning at the Gander Community Centre, location of the business exhibition for RuralEXPO 2003. Sandra Kelly, MHA for the District of Gander and Claude Elliott, Mayor of Gander participated in the official opening, which featured a performance by the aboriginal musical group, The Flummies.

"The enthusiasm of the people who attended the official opening was evident in the atmosphere. It was an exciting event and set the tone for RuralEXPO 2003," said Premier Grimes. "The theme of RuralEXPO is �We�re doing it in rural Newfoundland and Labrador.� The delegates and exhibitors here today are proof positive of that. We are doing it right here."

Officials were piped into the official opening by local bagpiper Ashley Pinsent. An exciting video profiling rural success stories across Newfoundland and Labrador created a wave of electricity through the hundreds of people, who had gathered to officially kick off RuralEXPO 2003.

"The rural business exhibition was an ideal setting for the kick-off of RuralEXPO 2003," said Minister Foote. "The community centre was alive with excitement as businesses and organizations took advantage of the opportunity to showcase the significant business and economic opportunities available in rural Newfoundland and Labrador."

In addition to the rural business exhibition that showcases successful rural businesses and community economic development organizations from around the province, the conference and exhibition program also includes:

• The third annual Community Economic Development Awards ceremony and gala banquet that will honour contributions made by outstanding individuals and organizations to community economic development in Newfoundland and Labrador;
• A conference program that will focus on approaches and practices for community and business development that work best in rural Newfoundland and Labrador; and
• A youth forum to provide an avenue for young people to be heard and to provide suggestions on the future direction of the province.

Approximately 150 companies and organizations will be represented at the rural business exhibition and 350 people are registered for the conference program.

RuralEXPO 2003 events are being held at Hotel Gander and the Gander Community Centre from September 25-27. A Songwriter�s Circle featuring local artists, organized by the Music Industry Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, took place at the Gander Arts and Culture Centre last evening.

RuralEXPO 2003 is being organized by the Department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development, in partnership with representatives of Regional Economic Development Boards, Futures in Newfoundland and Labrador�s Youth (FINALY), the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Municipalities, Newfoundland-Labrador Federation of Co-operatives, Junior Achievement of Newfoundland and Labrador, Youth Ventures, Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs (NLOWE), the Regional Economic Development and Schools (REDAS) Program, and the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Community Business Development Corporations.

Further information is available at: //www.gov.nl.ca/ruralexpo

Photo #1: Piping in - Premier Roger Grimes; Hon. Judy Foote, Minister of Industry, Trade and Rural Development; and Sandra Kelly, M.H.A. for the District of Gander, are piped into the official opening of RuralEXPO 2003 by Gander resident Ashley Pinsent.

Photo #2: Ribbon Cutting - (L to R) Sandra Kelly, M.H.A. for the District of Gander; Jay McGrath, youth delegate representative; Adam Harnett, rural business exhibition representative; Premier Roger Grimes; Hon. Judy Foote, Minister of Industry, Trade and Rural Development; Sean Wilshire, regional economic development board representative; and Claude Elliott, Mayor of Gander, officially open RuralEXPO 2003.

Photo # 3: The Flummies - The 2003 East Coast Music Awards Aboriginal Group of the Year, The Flummies, performs at the official opening of RuralEXPO 2003.

Media contact: Tansy Mundon, Communications, (709) 682-0366
RuralEXPO 2003 media centre, (709) 651-3602

2003 09 26                                        11:25 a.m.